Deputies probe death of man held down by family

by Sheryl Kornman on May 13, 2009, under Local

Citizen Staff Writer

SHERYL KORNMAN

skornman@tucsoncitizen.com

Pima County sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of Arthur Huerta Nabor, 30, whose father and brother said they restrained him face down on a couch until he became unresponsive Saturday, according to court documents.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, said Deputy Dawn Barkman, a sheriff’s spokeswoman.

Deputies were called to a domestic disturbance at the family home in the 5700 block of South Bryant Stravenue, near Alvernon Way and the Benson Highway, at 3 a.m., she said in a news release.

According to a search warrant return obtained Tuesday by the Tucson Citizen, sheriff’s investigators took drug paraphernalia, a “green leafy substance,” “various unknown prescription medications/narcotics,” and a small plastic bag “with powder residue” from the home as evidence.

They also took a plastic bag containing “unknown pills” from a brown purse and “unknown pills” from a closet in the house.

Family members told paramedics Nabor was using crack cocaine and fighting with family members, according to the search warrant papers.

Paramedics could not revive Nabor, according to those documents.

The search warrant request states that Nabor may have used a frying pan and a water pitcher as a weapon.

Nabor was held on a couch in the living room, according to documents in the case. A detective described the incident as “somewhat of a prolonged event.”

Deputies said they believed the death may have been caused by “fighting,” according to the documents.

A kitchen blender and cell phones were also taken as evidence.

No one has been charged in the death. The investigation is continuing.

Autopsy drug test results can take up to six weeks.

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